Stories

 

 

Believe in Belize is an all-volunteer organization that supports community, education, health, and the environment in Belize. We are a fully remote 501c3 nonprofit headquartered in Maryland, USA. Our volunteers worldwide collaborate with individuals and nonprofits in Belize to improve the quality of life for the amazing Belizean people.

After seven years of consistent growth, we are looking for an enthusiastic, caring, and experienced leader to take the helm. This is a volunteer position with an expected time commitment of 10-15 hours weekly.

 

The Executive Director will be an ambassador for the organization and work with government agencies, like-minded non-profits, and community organizations. The Executive Director is also expected to help raise funds for our mission.

 

The Executive Director will bring her/his unique experiences to the role, but basic expectations are below:

 

 

 

 

 

If you are interested in this volunteer position, please send your cover letter and resume to info@believeinbelize.org.

 

 

 

Believe in Belize is committed to a policy of equal opportunity and does not discriminate in the terms, conditions, or privileges of volunteering on account of race, age, color, sex, national origin, physical or mental disability, religion, or otherwise as may be prohibited by federal and state law.

 

 

 

.

 

Welcome to our 2025-1 newsletter (link to previous issues).  We are delighted you decided to read it and welcome your feedback on how we can improve it.

 

The end of 2024 marked seven years since the launch of Believe in Belize on January 1st, 2018.  Since that day we operated as an all-volunteer nonprofit organization with one core value – we focused on little actions that created large impacts for Belizeans and their communities. To our donors, volunteers, and partners, who believed in us when we first started and those who joined us along the way, “Thank You!” for helping us complete over 30 projects and services.

 

 

 

Back to Community Pillar

 

Believe in Belize is partnering with the Belizean Rotary Clubs of Corozal, Placencia and Punta Gorda on shipping a 20' container in the Winter of 2025 to benefit schools and communities.  The current planned content is:

 

Over 170 refurbished desktop computer systems / laptops

 

Over 3,000 books

 

Over 60 boxes of medical supplies

 

10 cat "trap and release" cages

 

Back to Rotary Club of Punta Gorda 

 

Back to Community Pillar

 

Believe in Belize has partnered with the Belizean Rotary Clubs of Placencia and Punta Gorda on shipping a 20' container in the Spring of 2025 containing about 200 bicycles and other riding equipment (helmets, pumps, etc.).  With only 17% of families having access to transportation, these bicycles will help provide access to employment, education and healthcare for the people of Belize!

 

This project is a lead by our two volunteers, Pete Gartmann and Wendy Fritz.  They live in Wisconsin, USA and will be collecting the donated bicycles and equipment in their hometown.

 

 

 

In early April, the bikes and bicycle supplies had been collected by Pete, Wendy and friends in Wisconsin and the container, was loaded:

 

 

The container filled with bikes and bike supplies was shipped to Belize and the bikes were distributed in late spring/early summer 2025:

 

 

 

The Belizean students and adults who received these beautiful bikes were thrilled and so appreciative. The bikes will help them get to work and school easier. Yes, bikes change lives!

 

The bikes donated to the Hillside Clinic in Toledo District for use by the healthcare volunteers will allow them to get to/from the clinic faster and easier which will allow them to focus more on their much-needed patient care.

Back to Rotary Club of Punta Gorda 

 

 

Back to Rotary Club of Placencia 

 

 

The Rotary Club of Placencia has a goal to create a well maintained and equipped sport field suitable for a variety of sports and activities and a covered recreational area.  The club is teaming with Believe in Belize to raise $35,000 USD.

 

 

The IMPACT Initiative (Infrastructure, Mentoring, Partnership, Apprenticeship, Career Exploration, Technology & Training) aims to address those two problems.

 

 

 

 

 

Back to Rotary Club of Placencia OR Support a School

 

 

Keller Williams in Belize is pairing up with Rotary Club of Placencia and Believe in Belize to raise $15,000 USD to create a Library/Resource Center and Kitchen at the San Juan Bosco Primary School in the village of Cowpen in Southern Stann Creek, Belize. Donations from this project are critical to the future success of the children in this village.

The school is located in the village of Cowpen in Southern Stann Creek District.

 

For 2024, The Rotary Club of Placencia is embarking on a project for creating a library/resource center and kitchen. Learn More.

Believe in Belize is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization and your donation is tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law. Learn more.

  

Back to Environment Pillar

 

Back to Community Pillar

 

 

Back to Education Pillar

 

Indian Church Government School is located close to the Lamanai Archeological Site.  It is found in a remote area that is 36 miles away from Orange Walk Town. It is a 3 level miltigrade school with a school population of only 36 students and 3 staff members. The children at Indian Church Government School enjoy sports, environmental activities, but most of all learning together and collaborating with one another.

 

 

 

Welcome to our 2024-1 newsletter (link to previous issues).  We are delighted you decided to read it and welcome your feedback on how we can improve it.

 

It is hard to believe that the end of 2023 marked six years since the launch of Believe in Belize in January 1st, 2018.  From that day we operated as an all-volunteer nonprofit organization with one core value – we focused on little actions that created large impacts for Belizeans and their communities. To our donors, volunteers, and partners, who believed in us when we first started and those who joined us along the way, “Thank You!” for helping us complete over 25 projects and services.

 

Have you ever wanted to donate things (school supplies, computers, medical equipment, sports clothing, etc.) to your favorite Belizean non-profit (e.g. school, rotary club, village, etc.) but were overwhelmed by the shipping logistics and costs, handling customs, and delivering your donation?  The Container Shipping Cause addresses those issues.

 

We are currently working on three container shipments:

 

1) Fall 2024: 20,000 - 30,000 books, and medical supplies.

2) Winter 2025: 3,000 books, medical supplies, and 150+ computers.

3) Spring 2025: 200 bikes and related equipment.

 

For additional information, please email us at donations@believeinbelize.org.

 

For the Spring of 2023 the school requested school supplies for 120 students, sports equipment, classroom supplies, shoes, cloth rolls to make school uniforms, students sports clothing, pre-school books and toys, and material to build a volleyball court.  Total cost is ~ US $4,500.

 

Welcome to our 2023-1 newsletter (link to previous issues).  We are delighted you decided to read it and welcome your feedback on how we can improve it.

 

As we begin 2023, I am reflecting on our progress since we started operations 5 years ago, and I wish to begin by saying thank you to all our supporters, volunteers and partners.

 

Welcome to our 2022-1 newsletter (link to previous issues).  We are delighted you decided to read it and welcome your feedback on how we can improve it.

 

Believe in Belize is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization with the sole purpose of helping with the development of Belize.  In particular, our goal is to:

 

Believe in Belize (https://believeinbelize.org) provided major funding for the shipment of a 40’ container from the United States to Dangriga, Stann Creek through a collaboration with their partner Medical Equipment and Supplies Abroad (MESA) Foundation, Inc. (https://rotarydistrict6600.org/MESA).

Welcome to our 2021-1 newsletter (link to previous issues).  We are delighted you decided to read it and welcome your feedback on how we can improve it.

 

Believe in Belize is an all volunteer, non-profit organization with the sole purpose of helping with the development of Belize.  In particular, our goal is to:

 

Welcome to our 2019-3 newsletter (link to previous issues).  We are delighted you decided to read it and welcome your feedback on how we can improve it.

 

Believe in Belize is an all volunteer, non-profit organization with the sole purpose of helping with the development of Belize.  In particular, our goal is to:

 

Welcome to our 2019-2 newsletter (link to previous issue).  We are delighted you decided to read it and welcome your feedback on how we can improve it.

 

Believe in Belize is an all volunteer, non-profit organization with the sole purpose of helping with the development of Belize.  In particular, our goal is to:

 

We need funds for two major areas: charitable work and operational expenses.  Our needs and how we spend money will always be public (https://believeinbelize.org/SitePage/financial-information)

 

Funding options for our charitable work and operations can be found here https://believeinbelize.org/sitepage/donation-options.

 

Donations are tax deductible based on applicable US tax laws.

 

 

For Part 1 of this project please see this link.

 

On Wednesday October 24th, 2018, Officer Raul Pop from the Placencia Village Police installed 21 reflectors on bicycles of cyclists passing by (mainly children). Besides the safety value of this effort, it was gratifying to see the recipients happy to have them installed.

 

   

 

This is a pilot project for installing ~20 bicycle reflectors on bicycles in Placencia, Belize during the second half of October, 2018.  It is part of the Believe in Belize Health Program / Bicycle Safety Initiative.  The purpose is to get a better handle on the issues involved.  Afterwards, we will decide how to best proceed with this project.  You can participate in shaping the future of this project by joining our Bicycle Safety Initiative Facebook page here.

 

 

As part of its Education Program, Believe in Belize initiated a project to donate 205 computers (refurbished 64 bit architecture PC with keyboard & mouse, and monitor) to 41 schools and 1 junior college (St. John’s Vianney) in Belize to aid in the establishment of school computer labs.  This project will benefit about 6000 students the first year and another 6000 over the 5 year estimated life of the computers.  The deployment will take place in the Fall of 2018 and Spring of 2019 through our partner, Medical Equipment and Supplies Abroad Foundation, Inc. - Rotary District 6600 / MESA (partnership announcement)  and with the collaboration of the following Rotary Clubs in Belize: Belize Sunrise, Corozal, Dangriga and Placencia  (Rotary in Belize).

 

Flipboard (https://flipboard.com) is a magazine publishing tool.  When you see this symbol  on any website, clicking on it allows you to "flip" that page into a Flipboard magazine you publish or have access to contribute to it.  If you manage a website you can also insert Flipboard widgets (see how at https://about.flipboard.com/social-plugins).  One of the tools is a "+ Flip It" button which you just drag to your browser's Bookmarks Bar for easy flipping.

 

By flipping our website pages to Flipboard magazines you help spread the word about what we do at Believe in Belize (http://believeinbelize.org).

 

Below is the magazine published by Believe in Belize.  If you would like to contribute to it (i.e. Flip other relevant website pages to it) please contact us at Board@Believeinbelize.org to discuss further before we grant you access.  You can also choose to "Follow it".

 

We began operations on January 1st, 2018 as an unincorporated non-profit.  On April 17, 2018 we incorporated in the State of Maryland, USA as a non-profit business named Believe in Belize, Inc.  On March 26, 2019 we officially became an organization Exempt under IRC 501(c) (3) and classified as a public charity under IRC 170 (b) (1) (A) (vi). Our effective date of exemption is April 17, 2018.

 

IRS - Tax Exempt Organization Search - Use EIN 82-3524490, https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/

GuideStar - https://www.guidestar.org/profile/82-3524490